Emergency Response Planning for Disposal of Avian Influenza Affected Birds in NYS

Avian influenza (Al), or bird flu, is caused by avian influenza viruses that are carried by wild waterfowl and shed in the saliva, nasal excrements and feces. Domestic poultry get the disease when they come in contact with the viruses either directly from waterfowl (drinking from contaminated water, foraging in places where waterfowl have been), or from contact with other infected domestic birds, cages, feed, feces or workers that may be carrying the virus on their clothes or vehicles. It can also be spread easily with wind currents, therefore, the less birds are moved, especially off-site, the better. Static pile composting provides a tool to manage the birds on site, reducing the risk of spreading disease. CWMI, in collaboration with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Workplace Health and Safety Programs in the New York State College of Industrial and Labor Relations, developed and disseminated educational materials for a composting component of a state emergency response plan for avian influenza. Materials that were developed include a literature review of Al and methods of disposal of affected poultry, a 12 page illustrated fact sheet (http://hdl.handle.net/1813/11722) and poster entitled Natural Rendering: Composting Poultry Mortality and a 6-minute video (http://hdl.handle.net/1813/11663) that provide technical assistance for routine mortality and for emergency situations. These materials will help reach large scale poultry farms who already compost manure all the way down to backyard flocks that could spread disease. The plan includes effective use of personal protective equipment for workers, how to compost birds, different phases of the process, clean up and ultimate use of the compost. If there is a disease outbreak, it will be important for farmers to get the support they need. With a simple download, farms will have the information and will be able to follow steps to disinfect their operation.